Bits and Pieces…. and Advent Wishes

It is our custom to prepare and decorate our houses and offices for the Christmas season. In fact it starts so much earlier in malls - often starting to play yuletide music as soon as September sets in. But many times we lose sight of why we prepare or for whom we clean and decorate our facilities. If we only take time to sit back and put ourselves away from all the routine and busy-ness, and start to appreciate each and every new day as it comes…..

It was our 5th reunion last November 16, of the Fernando Air Base born-and-grown guys and dolls who reside here in Cebu (My wife Arleen and her 7 other siblings were born and grew up in the Air Force Base were pilots are trained). Being already an officer and a pilot trainee then, I knew them in their pre-teen to teen years and was with them in their growing-up years. Like always, everyone brought food of their choice and we enjoyed the fellowship up to the late hours of the night.

Having as many of these reunions in life makes us aware and appreciate the most important thing – how we relate with people.

In the space of two successive days in Manila (Nov 19-20), I met with former PNP Chief, Edgar B Aglipay, Chairman of the Philippine Retirement Authority; former Bureau of Immigration Chief, Andrea D Domingo, now GM of the Philippine Reclamation Authority; USEC Cecilio R Penilla, Director of the Office of Transportation Security, DOTC; the Assistant Solicitor General Magtanggol M Castro; and Lance Y Gokongwei, CEO of Cebu Pacific Airlines and his Staff, to discuss different issues concerning airport operations, safety, security and development initiatives.

One of the seemingly hardest things to do is to get appointments to meet the people at the top and space them out within a short period of time. But once you are able to do this, and discuss ideas and concepts with them, we realize that we all have the same basic needs and dreams.

Going back to Cebu after storm Lando moved out, and wanting to derive lessons from its experience, I immediately saw the need of meeting PAGASA Area Head, Oscar C Tabada; and we agreed to exercise the most basic of procedures – use our cell phones to be within reach at all times, and of course, re-establish a network of hotlines and calibrated exchange of information. That same time, I met the new ATO Area 1 Head, Agnes B Udang; and together with the ATO staff, reviewed the incident of a PAL aircraft that stayed aloft for an hour during a brown out at the storm’s vicious moments, until the electronic landing and visual aids were restored. We instituted more safeguards so that incidents like this would not happen again.

Most often, obstacles and bad moments in life are brought about to secure better understanding and stronger bonds with one another. 

I attended the Mactan Airline Operators Council (MAOC) last November 27 and discussed our anniversary plans with them. We wanted to have a mini-exhibit in pictures of the different airlines operating at Mactan, at the Terminal in the days preceding the December 18 Anniversary date. All agreed to have a year-long list of events in the airport that would promote aviation and highlight important historical and future events. In the evening, Arleen and I were invited to take part in the lighting of the 13 Christmas trees of different colors, signifying the start of the Christmas Season package of Cebu Hilton. Mayor Arturo and Mrs. Paz Radaza sat with us at the table; and as always, it was a most enjoyable experience listening to Manny O’s spirited explanation of the significance and background of Indian and several European cuisines.

Even as people have competing businesses and political loyalties or preferences, they all become one in celebrating life’s substantive and childlike fantasies.

We in the Airport will never forget our November 29 Board Meeting. We all did exercise the greatest discipline and control in focusing on the matters for discussion, while knowing that there was a coup of sorts happening in Makati. Such was the same in every part of the country, including places in Metro Manila not directly influenced by the physical events at ‘Manila Penn’. We in the Airport had to stay on alert until the ‘mutiny’ was in control and national security situation, normal. I could not keep track anymore of how many failed ‘revolutions’, ‘coups’, ‘mutinies’ we have had already since February ‘86.

A revolution or coup is successful only when it starts from the inside of each person or group of persons leading the revolution. If you  really think about it – if you cannot lead or change yourself, you cannot lead your family. If you cannot lead your family, you cannot lead your immediate community or small group in your work, and so forth………it’s a lifetime of changing and improving one’s self. And you probably have no more time minding other people’s business.

That same evening, while waiting for the Makati ‘misadventure’ to end, I attended the despedida party for Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ E Perez, Area 1 Head, at the adjacent ATO premises. It was a great opportunity to meet many of the airport GMs there, including the FedEx manager for Asia Pacific. None were that concerned about the Makati standoff, but were all bidding goodbye to a good man. We wish Rudy the best in his retirement; and after resting a bit, get on to do other things.

We learn a lot from others. Without any exception, everyone contributes something positive to an assigned position- for that is the nature of man.

On December 2, while in Manila, preparing to attend the Senate Plenary Budget Hearing, I remembered that the US renowned 70s group, AMERICA, performed at Waterfront Lahug the night before. I texted Cesar Dona, Operations Duty Manager at the Airport, to invite them over to the VIP Lounge like we did the CASCADES, and ask their leader to sign his autograph for America on one of the guitars we had displayed at the Lounge. My late high school, early college days and later learning-to-fly days were full of Cascades and America music.

We never forget the music of our growing up years. It makes life so exciting and keeps us young forever.

December 3 and 4 were the ‘longest’ hours in my life. I did not imagine how much everyone had to wait the turn for the Senate Plenary hearing of his Department’s coming-year budget. I had to re-book my flight back to Cebu two times. But we all had a chance to meet long lost colleagues, exchange notes with staff across departments and observe and learn much from the proceedings.

Out of every situation- good or bad, is a learning opportunity.

More good news

Eppie Acusar, GM of VASCOR, texted me that there would be 4 incoming flights of Transmile Freighters. We usually have increased cargo flights during the Advent season. Because I loved to see new aircraft come in, I waited for these flights. I did not imagine these to be wide-body MD11Fs.

Also as everyone knows by now, Cebu Pacific is launching the Cebu-Taipei route on Dec 14, the Cebu-Bangkok flight by April 6 and the first ATR 70 aircraft on the Cebu-Caticlan route by March 28.

We still are awaiting the same Cebu-Caticlan route by Air Philippines, using the Bombardier Q300; but they start the Manila-Caticlan flight by Dec 12

As we light the third advent candle tomorrow, and start the early dawn masses, we remember that every sunset brings forth a new day, foremost of which ……

Celebrates His Coming…..

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